By Dhanya Subramanian and Shravan Sundaram
Following the second GLP teen session (Emotional Well-Being), here are the key takeaways that our listeners valued most.
We talked about an unwholesome life which results in poor health and suffering, and a harmonious life when the body and mind are in sync. One can attain optimal health when the mind and body function as one unit. One helpful practice for the mind and body to work together is through Optimal chewing which provides numerous benefits to the body and mind. Count your chews and chew well (with at least 25 counts) to focus on your eating and restore your body with the entire amount of energy.
The topic for this session was emotional well-being. We split up this topic into two sessions; this session focused on negative emotions. Teens and adults face anger, frustration, fear, depression, and other negative emotions. However, those emotions lead to repeated pain, suffering, dissatisfaction, and delusion. These negative emotions disrupt the body-mind nexus, lowering immunity, affecting cognition, and leading to disease and suffering because of balance disruption. On the science side of it, negative emotions trigger the release of stress-associated neurochemicals that wreak havoc on various physiological systems. People, including teens, then turn to smoking, decreased physical activity, poor sleep, alcohol, and drugs, lowering immunity even more.
To face these emotions, awareness is the key. The awareness that one has emotions is essential, so one should monitor their mind to combat negativity. Managing emotions is complex, and it is important to not repress or suppress your emotions; instead, embrace them. One specific approach is the PP Approach. There are four steps for this approach:
Pause before assuming
Pause before judging
Pause before accusing
Pause before reacting harshly
Also, use some GLP tools to combat negativity with good quality sleep, good eating practices, PE and other physical activities, and music/vocal/dance to replace negative emotions with positive ones. These tools are stress busters and can lead to unlimited happiness. Remember to always take a break and get some fresh air. Breathing is very important, and one should be concise using balanced inhalation and exhalation, which can overcome negativity and stress. The more air you breathe in, the more oxygen comes inside, allowing you to think more clearly with an open mind.
In addition, learn to understand that every person is unique! Comparing creates the tendency to belittle yourself, but every person can nourish their skills and grow. You have the purpose to shine and contribute to this society, so love yourself!
Some of the biggest pieces of advice that Dr. Rao and his team gave to some teen questions were:
“All glitter isn’t gold, and perceptions aren’t the same as reality.”
“The grass may look greener on the other side, but it’s just as hard to mow.”
Say, “I think I can. I know I can.”
Ultimately be kind to yourself and remember that what you do is in your control. For every step you take, you must take two steps backward. Initially, it will be a challenge, but don’t be harsh on yourself, validate and acknowledge your emotions to achieve your goals.
Next Session
We thank everyone for joining. Our next session will be on February 26, 2023, at 10 AM. We will continue this topic in our next session and focus on positive emotions and how they uplift our lives. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please contact Dhanya Subramanian at dhanya.subramanian4@gmail.com or Shravan Sundaram at shravan.sundaram9@gmail.com.
Synopsis
Teens have a lot on their plate, and they may feel overwhelmed with thoughts of frustration and other concerns. Through a series of live zoom sessions with Q & A parts, two high-school teens will address and present current topics concerning teen health and wellness. The session will be broken down into three parts, good living practices, the teen topic for that day, and then the question and answer session.
With the knowledge and guidance from Dr. Ram Rao and his team join us as we grow together and learn about healthy ways of dealing with the ever-growing problems that we face as teenagers in a world with technology developing so rapidly. All beliefs, all religions, and all genders are welcome.
Dr. Rammohan Ram holds a PhD in neuroscience. He has over two decades of experience in research and teaching specifically in age-associated neurodegenerative diseases with special emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease. He is a NAMA Board Certified Ayurveda Practitioner (AP), a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) from Yoga Alliance and a member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Accreditation Council (NAMAC). He is also the author of the sensational book, Good Living Practices: “The best from Ayurveda, Yoga and Modern Science For Achieving Optimal Health, Happiness and Longevity.”